1. بَلغَت ريحُ النُّعامَى

    عنكمُ الصَّبَّ السَّلاما

    The breeze of al-Naʿāmā conveyed

    your greetings to the ardent lover,

  2. وَرَوت عنكُم حديثاً

    رَاحَ للصَّبِّ مُداما

    and related a tale of you

    that turned to wine for the lover.

  3. وَأَتت تَحمِلُ عنكُم

    نشر رندٍ وخُزامَى

    It came bearing from you

    the fragrance of bay and lavender.

  4. عَشِقتَ قلباً منَ الشَّو

    قِ كَئِيباً مُستَهاما

    You loved a heart that longing left

    sorrowful and utterly love-distraught.

  5. لَم يَزَل في سالِفِ الدَّ

    رِ إليكُم يَتَرامَى

    Through all the ages past, it never ceased

    to cast itself toward you.

  6. إنَّ قلباً رُحتُمُ في

    هِ فقَد نَالَ الَمرامَا

    Surely, a heart in which you came to dwell

    has thereby attained its heart’s desire.

  7. وَتَهنَّت كُلُّ أُذنٍ

    سَمِعت مِنكُم كَلاما

    And every ear rejoiced

    that heard words from you.

  8. آهِ من عيشٍ تَقَضَّى

    مَعَكُم لو كانَ داما

    Ah, for a life that passed away

    with you—if only it had lasted!

  9. مَع مَليحٍ يُخجِلُ البَد

    رَ أَرخَى اللِّثامَا

    With a beauty who puts the full

    moon to shame whenever he lowers his veil.